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Implantology of Fractures of the Head of Femur

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Handbook of Orthopaedic Trauma Implantology

Abstract

Femoral head fractures, also known as Pipkins fractures, are more common in young and are usually caused by high-energy trauma. Controversies in the management of Pipkins fracture still exist between excision, osteosynthesis, and arthroplasty. For internal fixation, multiple implants have been tried including Smillie pins, Kirschner wires, screws including mini- or small-fragment cortical screws (2.0–3.5 mm) with countersinking of the head, headless screws like the Herbert screw, and bioabsorbable pins. Fixation can be challenging and may be best done through a safe surgical dislocation using a trochanteric flip osteotomy or through an anterior modified Smith-Peterson approach. Total hip arthroplasty as well as hemiarthroplasty are also advocated for these fractures in certain situation.

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Mukhopadhaya, J., Bhadani, J.S. (2023). Implantology of Fractures of the Head of Femur. In: Banerjee, A., Biberthaler, P., Shanmugasundaram, S. (eds) Handbook of Orthopaedic Trauma Implantology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7540-0_78

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7540-0_78

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-19-7539-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-7540-0

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